Road heater system

Abstract

A road heater system for preventing ice and snow accumulation on a roadway includes a roadway comprising a pavement and a plurality of rebar in which the plurality of rebar is embedded in the pavement. A control circuit is electrically coupled to the plurality of rebar. An electric generator is electrically coupled to the control circuit and selectively directs an electrical current from the electric generator through the plurality of rebar, thereby heating the plurality of rebar and the pavement via resistive heating.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A road heater system comprising:
 a roadway comprising a pavement and a plurality of rebar, the plurality of rebar being embedded in the pavement;   a control circuit being electrically coupled to the plurality of rebar; and   an electric generator being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the control circuit selectively directing an electrical current from the electric generator through the plurality of rebar, thereby heating the plurality of rebar and the pavement via resistive heating.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air thermometer being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the air thermometer being positioned such that the air thermometer is configured for sensing a temperature of a volume of air adjacent to the roadway, the control circuit being programmed to direct the electrical current through the rebar when the temperature of the volume of air is less than a predetermined air temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a road thermometer being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the road thermometer being positioned to sense a temperature of the pavement, the control circuit being programmed to terminate directing the electrical current through the rebar when the temperature of the pavement is greater than the predetermined pavement temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a road thermometer being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the road thermometer being positioned to sense a temperature of the pavement, the control circuit being programmed to terminate directing the electrical current through the rebar when the temperature of the pavement is greater than the predetermined pavement temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is programmed to activate the electric generator when the temperature of the volume of air is less than the predetermined air temperature, the control circuit being programmed to deactivate the electric generator when the temperature of the pavement is greater than the predetermined pavement temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric generator comprises a power storage, the electric generator being configured to electrically charge the power storage. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the power storage comprises a battery. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the electric generator further comprises a solar panel, the solar panel being electrically coupled to the power storage. 
     
     
         9 . A road heater system comprising:
 a roadway comprising a pavement and a plurality of rebar, the plurality of rebar being embedded in the pavement;   a control circuit being electrically coupled to the plurality of rebar;   an electric generator being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the control circuit selectively directing an electrical current from the electric generator through the plurality of rebar, thereby heating the plurality of rebar and the pavement via resistive heating;   an air thermometer being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the air thermometer being positioned such that the air thermometer is configured for sensing a temperature of a volume of air adjacent to the roadway, the control circuit being programmed to direct the electrical current through the rebar when the temperature of the volume of air is less than a predetermined air temperature; and   a road thermometer being electrically coupled to the control circuit, the road thermometer being positioned to sense a temperature of the pavement, the control circuit being programmed to terminate directing the electrical current through the rebar when the temperature of the pavement is greater than the predetermined pavement temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The road heater system of  claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is programmed to activate the electric generator when the temperature of the volume of air is less than the predetermined air temperature, the control circuit being programmed to deactivate the electric generator when the temperature of the pavement is greater than the predetermined pavement temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The road heater system of  claim 9 , wherein the electric generator comprises a power storage, the electric generator being configured to electrically charge the power storage, the power storage comprising a battery, the electric generator further comprising a solar panel, the solar panel being electrically coupled to the power storage.